Okay, so maybe I've a few too many braids going on here for my age, but I'm still new at this doing-something-with-my-hair-instead-of-just-letting-it-hang thing. And according to delightful Alain Larivée, Canadian Creative Consultant for John Frieda, braids are big for summer. So here I've done a reverse French braid from just under my left ear to the nape of my neck just under my right ear, then coiled the braid into a bun and pinned it into place. Pieces hanging in my face got annoying, so I braided the them, too, and tucked them in with a hairpin each. A little fräulein, yes? (Thanks to pal Liza, I now crave kaiserschmarrn.)

It's taken me since last October, when Prema (above) of Salon Daniel whipped up this great little ’do for me. It's so simple: a swingy blowdry wound into a casual little hairpinned side bun at the nape of my neck. First time I'd ever worn such a look, and I loved it. I'm not so accomplished with hair-style variety when it comes to my own hair, you see. Frankly I can't be bothered.

I'm lucky that the older I get, the more wash+product+go my waves become. I throw some kind of curl cream into my post-shower wet hair and dash. Blow dry? Pshaw, especially in the summertime when using a dryer and my A/C at the same time blows a fuse. Ponytail? Eck. Looks dreadful if I haven't first blowdried my hair -- the tail part is a bushy mess.

Five months later stylist Charles Baker Strahan (BeautyEditor.ca's other-reality husband, I believe) again demo'd the sweet side bun for me. Of course he first blowdried my hair -- a task made easier with a little Herbal Essences Long-Term Relationship Leave-In Split-End Protector after I'd used incredibly hydrating Hydralicious Reconditioning shampoo/conditioner at home first -- and added a couple of tendril flourishes with hot iron. That's why he's the pro on deck for a number of celebs including Scarlett Johansson and Leighton Meester (who is now the face of Herbal Essences).

This, three months after Charles, is as close as I get to recreating what he and Prema did. Nope, no blowdry, no hairspray -- heck, I put curl enhancing stuff in my hair post-shower as usual, then later decided to put it up when it had air dried. Not bad, I think, for a girl just learning how to do something with her hair instead of just letting it hang. (Beg pardon for the dorky vacant look. A certain Liza keeps telling me to stop smiling for my Lipstick Diary; this photo was going to be a lips-only crop for that series except I'm pretty sure Lancôme Color Fever Matte in 151 Avant Garde isn't available in Canada anymore.)

For a comprehensive how-to on braids via Michelle's alternate-reality hubs, click here.

Prema is co-owner of Salon Daniel at the Soho Metropolitan Hotel in downtown Toronto.